Kanler Cumbass Focuses on Higher Education Every Day. He Would Choose Piedmont. Again.

Kanler Cumbass was a stellar Piedmont University student. A tennis player and academic scholar, he was also involved in the campus community, including serving as president of the Student Government Association (SGA). 

It was not always so. As a freshman, Cumbass struggled with being so free and far away from home. It can be lonely and overwhelming. He considered transferring to a school nearer to his parents in southern Georgia.

Then Cumbass got an up-close look at leadership. Piedmont’s Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Kim Crawford nudged him to participate in SGA. Biology Professor Dr. Julia Schmitz also mentored Cumbass, involving him in the process as Piedmont embarked on “High-Impact Practices.” These include travel study, leadership, community engagement, and the university’s annual undergraduate research celebration, Symposium. 

“Piedmont University's dedication to these core high-impact practices sets it apart and ensures that every student is well-prepared for future endeavors,” Cumbass said. “While at Piedmont, I had access to rigorous undergraduate research opportunities that allowed me to deeply explore my academic interests. The high-quality experiential learning activities, both at home and away, provided me with invaluable hands-on experiences that enriched my education and prepared me for real-world challenges.”

Before graduating from Piedmont in 2019 with History and Political Science degrees and earning a master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Georgia, Cumbass began to see the bigger picture and understand how involvement and mentoring impact student success. 

“The university's focus on leadership development helped me grow my leadership capacity and skills, equipping me with the tools needed to excel in my career and beyond,” he said.

Cumbass is now an associate with Education Strategy Group (ESG). The private company works with education, business, and civic leaders to expand economic opportunity and mobility by increasing educational attainment. Cumbass supports ESG’s postsecondary attainment portfolio by advising leaders on the quality of non-degree credentials, postsecondary attainment strategies, credit for prior learning, and financial aid policy. 

Cumbass spends his days thinking about education policy, getting students into higher education, and retaining them through graduation. It is his passion. Cumbass focuses on higher education. He knows Piedmont University. He understands the value of mentorship and still serves Piedmont as an Alumni Association Board of Directors representative on the university’s board of trustees. 

The once-shy freshman is forever a Lion. Cumbass would choose Piedmont again and again, he said. 

“As an alumnus, I am continuously proud of the university’s unwavering commitment to student success. I extend my warmest welcome to new lions whose lives will forever be positively impacted by the Piedmont University community. Welcome home, Lions!”